Daniel 11:1-12:4 - Daniel s Last Prophecy 1. 11:2-4 - The Medo-Persian Empire to be conquered by Greece 2 Now then, I tell you the truth: three more kings will arise in Persia, and then a fourth, who will be far richer than all the others. When he has gained power by his wealth, he will stir up everyone against the kingdom of Greece. 3 Then a mighty king will arise, who will rule with great power and do as he pleases. 4 After he has arisen, his empire will be broken up and parcelled out towards the four winds of heaven. It will not go to his descendants, nor will it have the power he exercised, because his empire will be uprooted and given to others. 11:2 - three more kings will arise in Persia followed by a fourth who would stir up all against the realm of Greece. The next three kings were Cyrus (600 or 576-530 BC) Cambyses (530-522 BC) Darius the great (522-486 BC) The fourth king is Xerxes (486-464) who invaded Greece and was frustrated at Thermopylae. He was defeated at Salamis in 480 BC 11:3-4 - a mighty king, is Alexander the Great in next ten years he accomplished the most dazzling military conquests in human history. He died of a fever in 323 in the imperial capital of Babylon. 11:4 his kingdom was broken up and divided toward the four winds of heaven. Alexander s domains were divided into four smaller and weaker kingdoms headed up by four of his generals Macedonia-Greece - Antipater Thrace and Asia Minor - Lysimachus The rest of Asia and Syria - Seleucus Egypt and Palestine under Ptolemy. 11:5-39 history of the last two of these kingdom. Egypt the king of the South the Ptolemy s Syria the king of the North the Seleucid s 1
Ptolemaic Kings Seleucid kings Ptolemy I Soter (305 282) Ptolemy II Philadelphus (282 246) Ptolemy III Eugeretes (246-222) Ptolemy IV Philopator (222-205) Ptolemy V Epiphanes (205-180) Ptolemy VI Philometor (180-145) Seleucus I Nicator (320 281) Antiochus I Soter (281-261) Antiochus II Theos (261-246) Seleucus II Callinicus (246-225) Seleucus III Ceraunus (225-223) Antiochus III the Great (223-187) Seleucus IV Philopator (187-175) Antiochus IV Epiphanes (175-163) 2
2. 11:5-20 - The king of the North versus the king of the South 5 The king of the South will become strong, but one of his commanders will become even stronger than he and will rule his own kingdom with great power. 6 After some years, they will become allies. The daughter of the king of the South will go to the king of the North to make an alliance, but she will not retain her power, and he and his power will not last. In those days she will be betrayed, together with her royal escort and her father] and the one who supported her. 7 Someone from within her family will arise to take her place. He will attack the forces of the king of the North and enter his fortress; he will fight against them and be victorious. 8 He will also seize their gods, their metal images and their valuable articles of silver and gold and carry them off to Egypt. For some years he will leave the king of the North alone. 9 Then the king of the North will invade the realm of the king of the South but will retreat to his own country. 10 His sons will prepare for war and assemble a great army, which will sweep on like an irresistible flood and carry the battle as far as his fortress. 11 Then the king of the South will march out in a rage and fight against the king of the North, who will raise a large army, but it will be defeated. 12 When the army is carried off, the king of the South will be filled with pride and will slaughter many thousands, yet he will not remain triumphant. 13 For the king of the North will muster another army, larger than the first; and after several years, he will advance with a huge army fully equipped. 14 In those times many will rise against the king of the South. Those who are violent among your own people will rebel in fulfilment of the vision, but without success. 15 Then the king of the North will come and build up siege ramps and will capture a fortified city. The forces of the South will be powerless to resist; even their best troops will not have the strength to stand. 16 The invader will do as he pleases; no one will be able to stand against him. He will establish himself in the Beautiful Land and will have the power to destroy it. 17 He will determine to come with the might of his entire kingdom and will make an alliance with the king of the South. And he will give him a daughter in marriage in order to overthrow the kingdom, but his plans] will not succeed or help him. 18 Then he will turn his attention to the coastlands and will take many of them, but a commander will put an end to his insolence and will turn his insolence back on him. 19 After this, he will turn back towards the fortresses of his own country but will stumble and fall, to be seen no more. 20 His successor will send out a tax collector to maintain the royal splendour. In a few years, however, he will be destroyed, yet not in anger or in battle. The Jewish people were caught in the rivalries for power between Egypt and Syria. 11:5 - The king of the South is Ptolemy I (323-285 BC) whose ambitions extended far beyond the borders of Egypt to Palestine and the rest of Asia. The prince under Ptolemy I who would become stronger than him was Seleucus Nicator (311-280 BC) he had once been one of his officers. 3
11:6 - The agreement was a proposed peace treaty that called for Antiochus II to marry Berenice, the daughter of Ptolemy II (285-246 BC). But Antiochus already had a wife, a powerful woman named Laodice. She organized a successful conspiracy and had Berenice and her infant son assassinated Berenice was handed over. In 247 BC Laodice poisoned king Seleucus I and took power as regent of her small son who became Seleucus II 11:7 - Ptolemy III (Euergetes) organized a great expeditionary force against Syria, in order to avenge his sister s death. This war raged from 246 to 241. Finally, he returned to Egypt laden with spoil 11:8 - Ptolemy III (246-221 BC) recovered the idols of Egypt taken by Cambyses in 524 B.C 11:9 - Seleucus II regained control of northern Syria and Phoenicia. 11:10-12 - Antiochus the Great (Antiochus III) launched an expedition against Phoenicia and Palestine (219-218). He was defeated at the battle of Raphia, by the smaller army of Ptolemy IV. In 203 BC Ptolemy IV died. His son, Ptolemy V (Epiphanes), was only four. Antiochus III struck at Egypt again. 11:13-16 - Antiochus the Great finally wrestles Israel from the Egyptians 11:13 - After 14 years Antiochus III returned with a great and well-equipped army against Syria (200 BC). 11:14 - the king of the South is now Ptolemy V Epiphanes of Egypt (203-181 BC). 'Violent men among your own people' is a reference to some Jews who joined with the army of Antiochus but without success the Ptolemaic General Scopas crushed the rebellion 199 BC. 11:15 - The 'fortified city' was the Mediterranean port of Sidon which was sieged and captured by the Syrians at this time. 11:16 - The Syrian armies swept into the Holy Land. Antiochus controlled the Holy Land by 197 BC. 11:17 - Antiochus the Great gave his daughter, Cleopatra, in marriage to Ptolemy V in 194 B.C. The idea was to gain control of Egypt but the plan backfired and Cleopatra came to stand with the Egyptians against Syria. 11:18 - The 'he' is Antiochus III. The 'coastlands' refer to Asia Minor and Greece. The 'commander' here is the Roman consul Lucius Scipio Asciaticus who defeated Antiochus in Asia Minor in 190 BC. Antiochus s second son, who was named after him, was among the twenty hostages taken to Rome, where he spent the formative years of his life. He later became the dreaded persecutor of the Jews, Antiochus Epiphanes. 11: 19 - 'Stumble and fall' Antiochus was killed in 187 BC while attempting to plunder a temple in the province of Elymais. 11:20 - Antiochus III s eldest son Seleucus IV (187-175 BC) became king. The 'tax collector' was his finance minister, Heliodorus. However, he will be destroyed - Seleucus was the victim of a conspiracy believed to be engineered by Heliodorus and he was poisoned to death. 4
3. 11:21-35 - Antiochus Epiphanes 21 He will be succeeded by a contemptible person who has not been given the honour of royalty. He will invade the kingdom when its people feel secure, and he will seize it through intrigue. 22 Then an overwhelming army will be swept away before him; both it and a prince of the covenant will be destroyed. 23 After coming to an agreement with him, he will act deceitfully, and with only a few people he will rise to power. 24 When the richest provinces feel secure, he will invade them and will achieve what neither his fathers nor his forefathers did. He will distribute plunder, loot and wealth among his followers. He will plot the overthrow of fortresses but only for a time. 25 With a large army he will stir up his strength and courage against the king of the South. The king of the South will wage war with a large and very powerful army, but he will not be able to stand because of the plots devised against him. 26 Those who eat from the king s provisions will try to destroy him; his army will be swept away, and many will fall in battle. 27 The two kings, with their hearts bent on evil, will sit at the same table and lie to each other, but to no avail, because an end will still come at the appointed time. 28 The king of the North will return to his own country with great wealth, but his heart will be set against the holy covenant. He will take action against it and then return to his own country. 29 At the appointed time he will invade the South again, but this time the outcome will be different from what it was before. 30 Ships of the western coastlands will oppose him, and he will lose heart. Then he will turn back and vent his fury against the holy covenant. He will return and show favour to those who forsake the holy covenant. 31 His armed forces will rise up to desecrate the temple fortress and will abolish the daily sacrifice. Then they will set up the abomination that causes desolation. 32 With flattery he will corrupt those who have violated the covenant, but the people who know their God will firmly resist him. 33 Those who are wise will instruct many, though for a time they will fall by the sword or be burned or captured or plundered. 34 When they fall, they will receive a little help, and many who are not sincere will join them. 35 Some of the wise will stumble, so that they may be refined, purified and made spotless until the time of the end, for it will still come at the appointed time. 11:21 - The 'contemptible person' was Antiochus Epiphanes (Antiochus IV) (175-164 BC), the son of Antiochus III the Great. He was not given the honour of royalty because he seized power from his nephew the rightful king. 11:22 - 'A prince of the covenant will be destroyed' Onias III, the high priest, was murdered in 170 BC through the intriguing of Antiochus. 11:23 Antiochus IV sought an alliance with Ptolemy VI, seeking to take advantage of what he perceived as weakness in the Ptolemaic kingdom and gain Egypt for himself. 11:24 The 'richest provinces' are the Holy Land. Antiochus sought to make small band of supporters rich stealing and plundering for that purpose. 11:25 - The 'King of the South' was Ptolemy VI of Egypt 5
11:26 - Ptolemy VI, son of Cleopatra and nephew of Antiochus was defeated by the treachery of some of his own leaders. 11:27 - Ptolemy VI met with Antiochus Epiphanes under the pretense forging an alliance between them but they continued to plot against each other. 11:28 - In returning to Syria, Antiochus decided to attack Jerusalem. In 169 BC he plundered the temple, setting up a garrison there and he massacred 80,000 Jews and sent 40,000 into slavery (see 1 Maccabees 1:20-28). 11:29-30 - He returned to the south for a second campaign two years later but now there are major differences because Rome is now the truly dominant power. The Roman historian Polybius writes about this period. Because they knew that he could not defeat Antiochus IV alone, Ptolemy appealed to Rome for help. In order to check the threat of Greek expansion, the Romans agreed to provide assistance. The "ships from Kittim" here refer to the ships which brought the Roman legions to Egypt in fulfillment of the defense pact. As Antiochus IV and his army marched toward Alexandria, they were met by three Roman senators led by Gaius Popillius Laenas in Eleusis, a suburb of Alexandria. There, Roman ambassador Popillius delivered to Antiochus IV the Senate's demand that he withdraws from Egypt. When the king requested time for consultation, Popillius drew a circle around Antiochus IV with a stick he was carrying and told him not to leave the circle until he gave his response. The king of the North was astonished at this display of Roman arrogance, but after a brief time, said he would do all that the Romans demanded. He was 'cut down to size' and takes out his fury by once again attacking Jerusalem! On his return to Syria, Antiochus IV tried to ease the sting of the humiliation he had suffered at the hands of the Romans by taking out his frustration on the Jews in Judea. His armies encircled Jerusalem and then attacked. All those Jews who resisted were executed. However, the pro Hellenistic Jews who allied themselves with Antiochus IV were left unharmed. He shows favor to those who 'forsake the holy covenant.' referring to apostate Jews. 11:31 - 'The abomination which causes desolation was the the altar to the pagan god Zeus was set up by Antiochus Epiphanes in the very temple of God at Jerusalem in 168 BC. It prefigures other 'desolations' which Jesus later prophesied in Matthew 24:15. This desolation, therefore, could possibly have three fulfillments: Antiochus in 168 BC. The destruction of the temple and of Jerusalem by the Romans in AD 70. The destruction of the spiritual temple of the Church (Ephesians 2:19-22) just prior to the Second Coming of Jesus Christ, when all Christian witnessing receives a world-wide ban (Revelation 11:7-10). The daily sacrifice had been ordained in Numbers 28:2-8. Antiochus forced the worship of another god in the very temple and ended the evening and morning sacrifice. 11:32 - Antiochus courts apostate Jews who are rebellious toward the Lord. 11:33 - 'Those who are wise' are the heroic Maccabean brothers and the godly 6
leaders of the Jewish Hasidim. 11:34 - 'A little help' this refers to the Jewish uprising in Modein, led by Mattathias and his son Judas Maccabeus. 4. 11:35-39 The Anti-Christ 36 The king will do as he pleases. He will exalt and magnify himself above every god and will say unheard-of things against the God of gods. He will be successful until the time of wrath is completed, for what has been determined must take place. 37 He will show no regard for the gods of his ancestors or for the one desired by women, nor will he regard any god, but will exalt himself above them all. 38 Instead of them, he will honour a god of fortresses; a god unknown to his ancestors he will honour with gold and silver, with precious stones and costly gifts. 39 He will attack the mightiest fortresses with the help of a foreign god and will greatly honour those who acknowledge him. He will make them rulers over many people and will distribute the land at a price. 40 At the time of the end the king of the South will engage him in battle, and the king of the North will storm out against him with chariots and cavalry and a great fleet of ships. He will invade many countries and sweep through them like a flood. 41 He will also invade the Beautiful Land. Many countries will fall, but Edom, Moab and the leaders of Ammon will be delivered from his hand. 42 He will extend his power over many countries; Egypt will not escape. 43 He will gain control of the treasures of gold and silver and all the riches of Egypt, with the Libyans and Cushites in submission. 44 But reports from the east and the north will alarm him, and he will set out in a great rage to destroy and annihilate many. 45 He will pitch his royal tents between the seas at the beautiful holy mountain. Yet he will come to his end, and no one will help him 11:35-39 refers to the time of the end (11:35) Some understand this as referring to the time just before Christ s return, and others see it as the end of the Maccabean struggles. Some of the actions can be attributed to Antiochus Epiphanes, and some seem to be prophecies of the beast power that will exist at the end of this present age. These verses apparently have dual fulfillments, spanning from the time of the Maccabees until the return of Christ. The preceding verses in Daniel 11 represent extremely detailed prophecies that have been fulfilled exactly as they were revealed to Daniel. The Roman Empire defeated Seleucid Syria in 65 B.C. and that it defeated Egypt in 30 B.C. Thus the first identities of the king of the North and the king of the South came to an end. 11:40-45 we read of actions of a king of the North and a king of South at the time of the end (11:40). 7
The events described do not correspond with events in the period of history Daniel t has been covering. We are moving to the end times and the final manifestation of the Antichrist who is prefigured by Antiochus. The end-time identities of these nations are clear. 5. 12:1-4 The end of the age 1 At that time Michael, the great prince who protects your people, will arise. There will be a time of distress such as has not happened from the beginning of nations until then. But at that time your people everyone whose name is found written in the book will be delivered. 2 Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt. 3 Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever. 4 But you, Daniel, roll up and seal the words of the scroll until the time of the end. Many will go here and there to increase knowledge. 12:1 the last days will be marked out by terrible persecution of God s people. Michael will protect them and they will survive. There will be a final deliverance but it will not be like the boys rescued from the furnace or Daniel from the lions. Instead it will be the ultimate deliverance from the grip of death itself. 12:2 the dead will rise and this will be followed by a final judgment and this will be followed by everlasting life or everlasting contempt. 12:3-4 the final state of the righteous will be glorious. 8